In-House Counsel

In-House Counsel

Location: Conti LLC Headquarters - Sterling Heights, MI
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Travel: Minimal (occasional domestic travel as needed)

Position Overview

Conti LLC, a national MEP construction company and subsidiary of Equans, is seeking an experienced In-House Counsel to support its U.S. operations. This role is headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and reports directly to the CEO. The In-House Counsel will provide legal leadership across construction operations, contracts, labor and employment matters, claims, and corporate reporting, while serving as the key liaison between Conti LLC, its outside counsel, and the Equans North America General Counsel and Ethics Officer.

Applicants must include their Bar ID number with their application to verify licensure and professional standing.

Scope of Work

Legal Strategy & Executive Support

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team
• Advise on legal risk, compliance, and strategic decision-making across daily operations
• Balance legal exposure with business practicality in a fast-paced construction environment

Contracts & Construction Law

• Lead the legal review of customer contracts, with emphasis on:
  • One-sided contract language
  • Risk allocation, indemnification, insurance, and limitation of liability provisions
• Provide legal guidance related to:
  • Specialty construction products
  • Subcontracted and self-performed scopes of work
• Review vendor and supplier agreements (secondary focus)

Claims, Risk & Dispute Management

• Oversee claims, disputes, and potential litigation matters
• Coordinate with outside counsel on strategy, reporting, and resolution
• Support risk mitigation efforts related to construction projects and contracts

Employment & Labor Law

• Review and support employment agreements and executive contracts
• Partner with the HR Director on labor and employment law matters, including:

• Workplace compliance
• Employee relations issues
• Labor law and statutory interpretation
• Ethics and Compliance Reporting

External & Parent Company Liaison

• Serve as Conti LLC's point of contact with its outside counsel
• Coordinate legal reporting and updates to the Equans North America General Counsel including:
  • Reporting through external counsel
  • Communication and documentation that is required by headquarters in Paris (to be submitted through the Equans North America General Counsel)
• Ensure alignment between U.S. legal matters and parent-company expectations

Regional & Corporate Support

• Provide legal support to regional leadership teams as needed
• Periodically meet with Vice Presidents across the country
• Support corporate governance and compliance initiatives

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Review and markup customer contracts for legal and commercial risk
• Advise project teams and executives on contract language before execution
• Identify legal exposure in one-sided agreements and recommend mitigation strategies
• Respond to ongoing legal questions from operations, HR, and leadership
• Coordinate calls and correspondence with outside counsel on claims or disputes
• Track open claims, employment issues, and legal action items
• Provide periodic legal updates to the CEO and executive team
• Collaborate with HR on employee-related legal matters as they arise
• Prepare or review legal summaries and reports for the Equans North America General Counsel
• Participate in meetings with regional leaders as legal issues arise
• Maintain awareness of construction law developments, lien statutes, and labor regulations impacting operations

Qualifications & Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in the State of Michigan
  • Bar ID number required at application
• Strong background in:
  • Construction law
  • Contract review and negotiation
  • Construction-focused clients or projects
• Experience in the construction or engineering industry strongly preferred
• Candidates from the public sector transitioning to private industry are encouraged to apply
• Excellent communication skills and executive presence

Compensation & Incentives

• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience
• Performance-based bonus opportunities , including:
  • Annual incentive bonuses tied to company and individual performance
  • Discretionary bonuses for exceptional contributions, risk mitigation, or claims outcomes
• Comprehensive benefits package

Why Conti LLC

• Opportunity to serve as the senior legal leader for a national construction organization
• Direct access to executive leadership and meaningful influence on company strategy
• Exposure to complex, high-value construction projects and national operations
• Collaborative relationship with an international parent company (Equans)